Friday, November 12
  • Do Now: Review Vocab Flashcards
  • Quiz
  • Scarlet Letter

Thursday, November 11

  • No School!!! Veteran's Day


Wednesday, November 10 = Early Release Day
  • Do Now: Vocab 9
  • Scarlet Letter: Chapter 10

Tuesday, November 9
  • Do Now: Vocab 9
  • PP: Thesis Statements
  • Chapter 9 Thesis Checklist
  • Reading / Writing Workshop
  • Home Work: Essays are due on Friday (the LAST day of the 1st quarter)



Monday, November 8
  • Do Now: Vocab 9
  • Binder Grade Review / Create new Table of Contents
  • Reading Workshop: Chapter 9 / Dimmesdale and Chillingworth handout (see Nov 5th for attachment)
  • 1-on-1 grade 9 week grade meetings with Ms. Geiman

Friday, November 5
  • Do Now: Vocab 8 Review Flashcards
  • Scarlet Letter: Discussion / Essay / Focus for Chapter 9

In the Scarlet Letter, some of the characters are given positive, sympathetic portrayals. Others have negative, perhaps even villainous portrayals. Still others may begin with negative qualities and gradually become more and more positive. Rarely does an author rely on the reader's personal sense of morality to determine which characters are positive and which are negative. Instead, there are details, actions, and characteristics that help define who is "good" and who is "bad." It's easy to know the difference in old westerns — good guys wear white hats; bad guys wear black hats. But even then, there are other details that help you know what it going on, details that even help you construct hierarchies (e.g., slightly bad to fully evil).

As you read Chapter 9, consider how Nathanial Hawthorne indicates which characters are positive and which are negative. Write an essay in which you focus on Roger Chillingworth and Arthur Dimmesdale. Use evidence from Chapter 9 to explain if these characters are portrayed as positive or negative.


Thursday, November 4
  • Do Now: Vocab #8 (flashcards & review)
  • Scarlet Letter: Chapter 8 Debate / Reading Activity (see 11/3 for the handout)

Wednesday, November 3
  • Do Now: Vocab #8
  • Scarlet Letter: Character Chart (fill in Pearl!)
  • Chapter 8 Debate / Reading Activity



Tuesday, November 2
  • Do Now: Vocab #8
  • Home Work Check: Posts were due last night! Did anyone add one?
  • Discuss Strategies for passing the ELA MCAS & Writing Prompt #12



Monday, November 1
  • Vocab #8
  • Home Work Check: What have people posted so far? Final deadline is TONIGHT at 8PM
  • Pearl! Turn in your handouts for Chapter 6 / Update character chart
  • Isolation Theme: Class discussion / handout
  • Chapter 7 Handout


Friday, October 29
  • Vocab: Study flashcards / Quiz
  • Session with Ms. Young

Thursday, October 28

  • Do Now: Vocab Flashcards / Review for the Quiz
  • Welcome Mr. Travers! Lecture: H.S. requirements & College thoughts



Wednesday, October 27: EARLY DISMISSAL
  • Do Now: Vocab #7
  • Reading Workshop: All students will have time to first complete their Chapter 6 handout. If you finish before our reading workshop is over, you will have time to read your independent books.
  • Quick Write / Home Work: Letter to a Freshman


Tuesday, October 26 (tentative)
  • Do Now: Vocab #7
  • Writing Prompt #11
  • Scarlet Letter: Chapter 6 PEARL - Students will read this chapter independently while completing the Chap. 6 handout!



Monday, October 25
  • Do Now: Vocab #7
  • Chapter 5: Finish reading & filling out the handout (see Oct 21st), focusing on the SCARLET LETTER SYMBOL
  • Silent Reading

Friday, October 22
  • Sub Packet. If you did not complete this on Friday, you must complete this for home work!




Thursday, October 21
  • Vocab #6: Flashcards / Quiz Review
  • Symbolism: the letter A
  • Chapter 5: Focus on the Scarlet Letter




Wednesday, October 20
  • Vocab #6
  • Chapter 4 Handout: Let's compare notes! Discuss Chapter 4!
  • Character Focus: Hester & Chillingworth posters

Tuesday, October 19
  • Vocab #6
  • Writing Prompt #9 (ATTACK the prompt)
  • Silent Reading Workshop
Students will complete Chapter 4 in the Scarlet Letter (along with the hand out). If they finish early, they may use the rest of the time for reading their independent book).
  • Character Discussion / Class Poster: Hester Prynn
  • 1st Impressions of the Scarlet Letter!
  • Students will be writing on the board and/or large poster pieces which will focus on a different topic (Hester, Pearl, Reverend Dimmesdale, The man with the crooked shoulder1 main character, Puritan Boston, etc). After a 2 minute quick write, you will rotate to a new poster (with a different topic), after reading what your peers have written- you will then have 2 minutes to add your thoughts or reflections on the poster! If you miss this activity, you will not be able to make-it up.


Monday, October 18
  • Binders: Check out how your binders were graded! Create a new Table of Contents!
  • Vocab #6
  • Scarlet Letter: Discuss Chapter 3, and compare notes from your Paragraph Plug-Ins handouts
  • Scarlet Letter: Begin filling in the Character Chart
  • Scarlet Letter Chapter 4


Friday, October 15
  • Vocab: Review 15 words, Take our weekly quiz! (if you miss this quiz, please re-schedule with me some time after school)
  • Check out student responses: Who else has posted?
  • Scarlet Letter: Chapter 3 - Paragraph plug-ins

Thursday, October 14
  • Vocab: Flashcards, Word Wall, Review for the Quiz!
  • Check out student responses / home work from our website
  • Writing Prompt #8
  • Scarlet Letter: Chapter 3 - Paragraph plug-ins
  • Home Work: Persuasive Paper / Is it Better to be a Man or a Woman?

Wednesday, October 13
  • Seniors: College Visits
  • Juniors: PSAT

Tuesday, October 12
  • Vocab #5
  • Scarlet Letter: Complete Chapter 2 / Discuss
  • Scarlet Letter: Begin Summary & Analysis Chart



Friday, October 8
  • Quiz #4 (includes 12 vocabulary words AND you MUST properly ATTACK a writing prompt)
  • Scarlet Letter: Chapter 2
  • Home Work: Have you posted your reply on the discussion tab yet? It's due on TUESDAY!!!

Thursday, October 7
  • Vocab Flashcards (you should be up to 12 of these!) Review for the Test
  • Writing Prompt #7 (spoiler alert........ you need to know how to ATTACK a prompt for the quiz Friday)
  • Scarlet Letter: WE WILL BEGIN READING!!!
  • Home Work: 1 Page Free Write / Author's Choice!



Wednesday, October 6 (tentative)
  • Vocab #4
  • Scarlet Letter / Nathanial Hawthorne PP and Outline (see Oct 5)
  • Puritan Laws & Character Handout: Marking up the Text (see Oct 5)
  • Silent Reading


Tuesday, October 5
  • Vocab #4
  • Home Page: Discussion Tab
  • Scarlet Letter / Nathanial Hawthorne PP and Outline
  • Puritan Laws & Character Handout: Marking up the Text
  • Silent Reading
  • Home Work: Due October 12 (click on the assignment)




Monday, October 4

  • Vocab #5
  • Writing Prompt #6
  • Scarlet Letter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anticipation Guide PP Activity




Friday, October 1
  • Quiz #3: 9 words (if you miss this quiz, you must take it after school with Mrs. Geiman)
  • Learn from our Peers! Students will be given copies of Hakeem's & Dimitri's I HOPE YOU WILL BUY IT papers. They will find various persuasive arguments that focus on pathos/logos/ethos. (must get handouts from Mrs. Geiman)
  • Silent Reading: Focus on PREDICTING (hand in your predictions after our reading workshop)
  • Creative Writing: Working together on a fun group story

Thursday, September 30
  • Vocab #3: Create Flashcards / Review
  • Learn from our Peers! Students will be given copies of Rashawnda's & Ana's PARTY OF THE YEAR papers. They will find various persuasive arguments that focus on pathos/logos/ethos. (must get handouts from Mrs. Geiman)
(for the handout, see Sept 27)
  • PP: Reading Is Thinking, Students take Notes!
  • Silent Reading


Wednesday, September 29
  • Vocab #3
  • Library Visit:
a- Renew or Find new Silent Reading Books
b-Create an email account (if you don't already have one)
c-Complete scavenger hunt
d-log into SNAPGRADES.com




Tuesday, September 28
  • Vocab #3
  • ABCs and D: Writing Prompt #5
  • Learning about Persuasive Writing from Professionals:
  • Fill out handout, View President Obama's BACK TO SCHOOL Speech 2009, begin marking up the text (See Sept.27)
  • Silent Reading


Monday, September 27


  • Vocab #3
  • Binder Check #1: Go through how your binders were graded, set up new Table of Contents
  • I HOPE YOU WILL BUY Papers: Turn in (if you haven't), discuss, share
  • Learning about Persuasive Writing from Professionals:
Fill out handout, View President Obama's BACK TO SCHOOL Speech 2009, begin marking up the text
  • Silent Reading (if time permits)

President Obama's 2009 BACK TO SCHOOL Speech


Friday, September 24
  • Review / Quiz 2: If you miss class, you can re-take this quiz after school with Mrs. Geiman
  • Review ABCs and D strategy (PP further down on this page): Writing Prompt #4
  • Silent Reading Session


Thursday, September 23
  • Vocab #2 (flashcards, word wall, review)
  • Persuasive Essay PP: Continue taking notes (see Sept. 21st for pp)
a) Take out your list of THINGS I WILL NOT BUY from yesterday
b) Exchange your list with a partner!
c) Pick 1 thing from your partner's list, and concentrate on that 1 ITEM for your persuasive paper
d) Complete the I Hope You WILL BUY It handout, including the brainstorming section!
e) Draft your persuasive paper
  • HOME WORK:
Review for Vocabulary Quiz #2, complete the I Hope You WILL BUY It HANDOUT (both pages)



































































Wednesday, September 22 (Early Release Day)
  • Vocab #2
  • Persuasive Essay PP: Continue taking notes (see Sept 21st for pp)
  • I will NOT BUY Activity
a) complete a list of 10 things you would NEVER buy!

Tuesday, September 21
  • Vocab #2
  • ABCs and D: Focus on ATTACKING the Prompt! Complete Writing Prompt #3
  • Persuasive Essay PP: Students Begin taking notes in their binders
  • Silent Reading

Monday, September 20
  • Vocab #2
  • "Talk the Paper Out" with a Partner / The Autobiographical Paper




Friday, September 17
  • Vocab Quiz #1 (If you miss the quiz, you must stay after school with me to take it)
  • Attend the Senior Assembly / In the Auditorium


Thursday, September 16
  • Vocab #1 (Flashcards, review for Quiz 1)
  • ABCs and D: Review Power Point (see Monday, Sept. 13); Writing Prompt #2
  • "Talk the Paper Out" Writing Strategy: Modeled by Mrs. Geiman
  • Silent Reading
  • HOMEWORK: Review for Vocab Quiz #1




Wednesday, September 15
  • Vocab #1
  • Why do Writer's Write (continued discussion, handout, and activity)
  • Silent Reading




Tuesday, September 14
  • Vocab #1
  • Silent Reading: 20 minutes
  • Looking for evidence: Ms. Geiman's Class President Paper & your homework!
  • Discuss: Why do Writer's Write?
  • HOMEWORK: What I DON'T WANT for a career!




Monday, September 13